USS Engage

USS Engage is the name of two ships of the United States Navy.

USS Engage (MSO-433)

USS Engage (MSO-433), an Aggressive-class minesweeper, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named Engage.

The second Engage (AM-433/MSO-433) was launched 18 June 1953 by Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California; sponsored by Mrs. R. B. Richmond; and commissioned 29 June 1954, Lieutenant S. J. Martin in command. She was reclassified MSO-433, 7 February 1955. Originally intended to be USS Elusive it was changed to Engage to avoid potential phonetic conflict with USS Illusive (MSO-448).

From her home port at Long Beach, where she first arrived 21 July 1954, Engage operated in mine warfare and general training along the west coast, preparing for her deployments to the Far East in 1955-56, 1958, and 1960. During these, she trained with minecraft of the navies of the Republics of China and the Philippines, and the Royal Thailand navy, since an important duty for minecraft serving in the Far East is to improve the readiness of friendly navies to operate in mutual defense.

USS Engage (AM-93)

USS Engage (AM-93) was an Adroit-class minesweeper of the United States Navy. Laid down on 26 February 1942 by the Dravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, launched on 11 July 1942, and commissioned on 22 October 1942. The ship was reclassified as a submarine chaser, PC-1597 on 1 June 1944.

World War II east coast operations

Engage arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on 12 December 1942 from her shakedown off Florida, and cruised again to Florida ports the next month on coastal escort duty. She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 4 February 1943 for operations in Chesapeake Bay until 10 March, when she sailed on escort duty to Bermuda. Here she served on escort and patrol duty, as well as training with submarines, occasionally leaving the area to escort ships to Norfolk.

Operating as a submarine chaser

On 4 July 1944, PC-1597 sailed in convoy from Norfolk, Virginia, for Bizerte, Tunisia, arriving 23 July. She moved on to Naples, Italy, and Ajaccio, Corsica, from which she cleared 13 August for the invasion of southern France. During the initial assault, she acted as reference vessel for the waves of landing craft bringing the troops ashore, then patrolled off the transport area. Through the next month, she supported the buildup in southern France by escorting convoys to the beachheads, and patrolling along the Riviera. At the close of September, she began general escort duty in the western Mediterranean until 27 May 1945 when she sailed for Jacksonville, Florida.